Ezekieli 14

1 Baadhi ya viongozi wa Israeli wakaja kwangu na kuketi mbele yangu.

Then some of the elders of Israel came and sat down before me.

2 Ndipo neno la Yahwe likanijia, likisema,

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

3 “Mwanadamu, hawa watu wamchukua sanamu zao kwenye mioyo yao na kuweka pingamizi la uovu wao mbele ya nyuso zao wenyewe. Je naweza kuulizwa yote na wao?

“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?

4 Kwa hiyo watangazie hivi na waambie, 'Bwana Yahwe asema hivi: Kila mtu wa nyumba ya Israeli achukuaye sanamu moyoni mwake, au awekeye pingamizi la uovu mbele ya uso wake, na kisha yule ajaye kwa nabii-Mimi, Yahwe, nitamjibu kulingana na sanamu zake.

Therefore speak to them and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him according to his great idolatry,

5 Nitafanya hivi ili kwamba niweze kuirudisha nyumba ya Israeli katika mioyo yao ambayo ilikuwa mbali nami kwa ajili ya sanamu zao.'

so that I may take hold of the hearts of the people of Israel. For because of their idols, they are all estranged from Me.’

6 Kwa hiyo sema kwa nyumba ya Israeli, 'Bwana Yahwe asema hivi: Tubuni na rudini kutoka kwenye sanamu zenu! Rudisheni nyuma nyuso zenu kutoka kwenye kachukizo yenu yote.

Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Repent and turn away from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations.

7 Kwa kuwa kila mmoja kutoka kwenye nyumba ya Israeli na kila mmoja wa wageni wanaoishi katika Israeli ajitengaye nami, achukuaye sanamu zake kwenye moyo wake na kuweka kwazo la uovu wake mbele ya uso wake mwenyewe, na kisha yule ajaye kwa nabii kunitafuta-mimi, Yahwe, nitamjibu mimi mwenyewe.

For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself.

8 Hivyo nitauweka uso wangu juu ya huyo mtu na kumfanya ishara na mithali, kwa kuwa nitamkata kutoka kati ya watu wangu, na mtajua kuwa mimi ni Yahwe.

I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

9 Kama nabii atadanganywa na kuongea ujumbe, kisha Mimi Yahwe, nitamdanganya huyo nabii; Nitanyoosha mkono wangu na kumwangamizaku toka kati watu wangu Israeli.

But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

10 Watabeba uovu wao wenyewe; uwovu wa nabii utakua uleule kama uovu wa yule aulizaye kutoka kwake.

They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the inquirer will be the same as that of the prophet—

11 Kwa sababu hiyo basi, nyumba ya Israeli haitaenda mbali kutoka kunifuata mimi wala kujinajisi wenyewe kupitia dhambi zao zote. Watakuwa watu wangu, nami nitakuwa Mungu wao-hivi ndivyo Yahwe asemavyo.”'

in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God, declares the Lord GOD.’”

12 Kisha neno la Yahwe likanijia, likisema,

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

13 “Mwanadamu, wakati nchi itakapo asi dhidi yangu kwa kufanya dhambi ili kwamba ninyooshe mkono wangu dhidi yake na kuvunja tegemea la mkate wake, na kuleta njaa juu yake na kukata mnyama kutoka kwenye nchi;

“Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of food, to send famine upon it, and to cut off from it both man and beast,

14 kisha hata kama hawa watu watatu-Nuhu, Danieli, na Ayubu-walikuwa katikati ya nchi, wangeweza kuokoa maisha yao wenyewe kwa haki-hivi ndivyo Bwana Yahwe asemavyo.

then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.

15 Kama nikileta wanyama waovu kwenye nchi na kuwafanya wasizae hivyo basi itakuwa hakuna mtu asiweze kupita kwa sababu ya hao wanyama,

Or if I send wild beasts through the land to leave it childless and desolate, with no man passing through it for fear of the beasts,

16 kisha hata kama watu hawa hawa watatu ndani yake-kama niishivyo, asema Bwana Yahwe-wasingeweza kuwaokoa hata watoto wao wala binti; isipokuwa maisha yao yataokoka, lakini nchi itakuwa ukiwa.

then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.

17 Au nikileta upanga juu ya hiyo nchi na kusema, 'Upanga, nenda kwenye nchi na wakate wote mtu na mnyama kutoka huo',

Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, ‘Let a sword pass through it,’ so that I cut off from it both man and beast,

18 kisha hata kama hawa watu watatu watakuwa katikatai ya nchi-kama niishivyo, asema Bwana Yahwe-wasingeweza kuwaokoa japo watoto wao wala binti; ila tu maisha yao wenyewe yangeokolewa.

then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered.

19 Au kama nikipeleka tauni juu ya nchi na kumwaga dhahabu yangu juu yake kwa damu, ili kuwakata mtu na mnyama,

Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out My wrath upon it through bloodshed, cutting off from it both man and beast,

20 kisha hata kama Nuhu, Danieli, na Ayubu wangekuwa kwenye hiyo nchi-kama niishivyo, asema Bwana Yahwe-wasingeweza kuokoa hata watoto wao au binti; maisha yao pekee yangeokoka kwa haki.

then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.

21 Kwa kuwa Bwana Yahwe asema hivi: hakika nitafanya mambo makali sana kwa kuleta adhabu zangu nne-njaa, upanga, wanyama wa porini, na tauni-juu ya Yerusalemu kuwakata wote mtu na mnyama kutoka kwake.

For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—in order to cut off from it both man and beast?

22 Kisha, tazama! mabaki yatasalia kwake, watakaokoka wataenda pamoja na wana na binti. Tazama! Watawatokea, na mtaona njia zao na matendo yao yakiwafariji kuhusu adhabu niliyoipeleka Yerusalemu, na kuhusu kila kitu kingine ambacho nilichopeleka juu ya nchi.

Yet, behold, some survivors will be left in it—sons and daughters who will be brought out. They will come out to you, and when you see their conduct and actions, you will be comforted regarding the disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem—all that I have brought upon it.

23 Waliokoka watawafariji ninyi mtakapoona njia zao na matendo yao, hivyo mtayajua haya mambo niliyoyafanya juu yake, kwamba sijayafanya bure! -hivi ndivyo Bwana Yahwe asemavyo.”

They will bring you consolation when you see their conduct and actions, and you will know that it was not without cause that I have done all these things within it,’ declares the Lord GOD.”